Inter-regional development approach for Mindanao mulled

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=930490
• Tuesday, October 11, 2016

(PNA), LAP/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct. 11 (PNA) –- An inter-regional approach would be ideal in the development of the entire island of Mindanao, a senior government official said here.

Abul Khayr D. Alonto, Secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said that the authority would “prioritize connectivity projects that have interregional coverage.”

Alonto was the guest speaker of the “Oro Best Expo 2016,” recently and said that the MinDA aims to transcend beyond regional boundaries in terms of commodity transfer which would make Mindanao regions more commercially viable.

He said that, under the connectivity program, MinDA would construct the 42-kilometer Bukidnon-Agusan Del Norte Road that would connect Region 10 and 13.

A similar project, the now almost completed 125-kilometers east-west lateral road, would connect Agusan Del Sur to Bukidnon, Alonto said.

“These projects would significantly cut travel cost and time between Regions 10 and Caraga,” he said.

According to Alonto, other road projects that were up for completion is the PHP 936-million Puntian-Arakan Road, connecting Northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Region.

Oro Best Expo 2016 was an annual event of the 300-member Cagayan De Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. aimed to address the concerns of the region’s micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Other topics discussed during the expo include networking, market development, policy advocacy for entrepreneurship and most importantly, the growth and the sustainability of chamber member companies.